Book Reviews: Conventional
Book Reviews (standard commentary/review of book) Knothole Book Reviews
(a "knothole review" is "not whole"-- the
concept is to give insights into an author's style, craft, and knowledge
through selected excerpts.)

This book helps you look at your work as an editor or agent would.
The book uses excerpts from thirty-six manuscripts for examples, showing
errors and corrections. In addition, the book tells how to establish and
function within writing groups.

FICTION:
“A good opening hook . . . creates a strong emotional bond between
the readers and the central character.”

“Readers must be able to orient themselves and see the scene from a
definite vantage point. The trick is to get inside your character's head
. . . Accomplishing this keeps the author on course with her viewpoint
character and allows the readers to share in the character's experiences.
“

“Writing in your point of view character's voice . . . lets your reader
see the world as your character sees it. Showing rather than telling is
the essence of fiction. Readers must be able to experience a story through
the senses and perceptions of the protagonist.”

“Using some exposition is understandable . . . but readers . . . don't
need to have it all delivered through straight exposition. . . . You can
also recast some exposition as interior monologue. A little bit of dialogue
can tell readers as much . . . as half a page of exposition.”

“One way to end more mundane scenes is to use an image or an exchange
of dialogue that summarizes or typifies the main emotion of the scene.
. . . the punch line is at the end.”

POETRY:
Revising poetry mandates precision of craft, a respect for duality,
and an intimate understanding of the ebb and flow of language. The final
lines should fulfill the promise of the title.”

“Before you begin to edit a poem, look first for its heart. What is
the author really writing about? What is she really trying to say?”

NONFICTION:
“Revising and critiquing nonfiction requires attentive-
ness to structure as well as content. When you are writing a memoir,
it's important to ask yourself what your life has been about. In the first
chapter of a mem- oir, you need to . . . 1) introduce the main characters,
2) establish the story's emotion, 3) show readers the setting, 4) create
suspense, and 5) move readers into the main conflict. The goal at the end
of each chapter is always the same--to pull the readers into the next.”

“The most difficult part of writing humor is sustaining it from beginning
to end. The key . . . is to pump up the humor so that the ‘message’ doesn't
dilute the story and make it serious.”

QUERY LETTERS:
The goal of the query letter is to present an article or book topic
in a clear and concise manner. The opening sentence . . . should . . .
get an editor's attention. That single page may be the most important piece
of writing you'll ever do. Tell what the book is about. If you have specialized
knowledge . . . say so. . . . publishing credits, mention them . . . offer
to send either a sample chapter and synopsis, or the full manuscript. Finally
. . . establish that there are people who will buy your book.